Indiana

Sex In the Subdivision

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

A Greenwood homeowner’s association has voted to keep sex offenders out of their sub-divison.  They passed a ban on sex offenders taking up residence in the sub-division as well as anyone who is convicted of a crime that would qualify them as a sex offender would have to move.

While similiar bans have withstood legal challenges (sex offenders are not a protected class), the homeowners are really lulling themselves into a  false sense of security if they think this ban will protect their children.

Contrary to popular opinion most sex offenders and their victims are not strangers.  According to the U.S. Justice Department it is a blatant myth that most sexual assaults are committed by strangers. The Department found that nearly 60 percent of boys and 80 percent of girls who are sexually victimized are done so by someone known to the child or the child?s family. So if your child is going to come into contact with a sex offender it will probably be a relative, family friend, babysitter, someone in a position of authority over the child or someone who supervises the child. Forget the stranger with candy and the raincoat.  If that?s not enough, here are some other fun little facts.

Most sex offenders are not caught, convicted and in prison. Only a fraction of those who commit sexual assault are caught and convicted. In addition, up to half of all cases of child molestation are committed by other adolescents between the ages of 13 to 17. There are some more stats I could throw at you, but I figure I?ve scared you enough.

If the homeowners really want to protect their children, they may want to start by doing a check of the people around them.  Like the data says, it?s probably not the guy down the street who?s more likely to molest your child, but the one you?ve already allowed into your home.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on August 05, 2008 (boomark / email).